Living Well with Diabetes

The Living Well with Diabetes program is the Diabetes Self-Management Program from Stanford, and is similar to the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program in structure. The curriculum is more specific to diabetes self-managment and covers topics such as monitoring blood sugar, healthy eating, list of recommended testing and preventive services, how to deal with sick days, foot care, and complications.

The Diabetes Self-Management workshop is given 2½ hours once a week for six weeks, in community settings such as churches, community centers, libraries and hospitals. The workshop is held with groups of 12-16 participants with diabetes, or who are caretakers for loved ones with diabetes. Workshops are facilitated from a highly detailed manual by two trained Leaders, one or both of whom are peer leaders with diabetes themselves.

Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration; 2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance; 3) healthy eating 4) appropriate use of medication; and 5) working more effectively with health care providers. Participants will make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program. Physicians, diabetes educators, dietitians, and other health professionals both at Stanford and in the community have reviewed all materials in the workshop.

It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.